Engine



Patented May 30, |899. l. B. HAMMOND.

ENGINE. (Application led Jan. 23, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

{No Model.)

N/ lar Patented May 30, |899. l. B. HAMMOND.

ENGINE.

(Application Bled Jan; 28, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

1m. l V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC B. HAMMOND, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,022, dated May 3G, 1899.

Application tiled January 23, 1897. Serial No. 620,424. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, IsAAc B. HAMMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah andState of Oregon, have invented a certain new and usefu-l Improvement in Engines, (Oase No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of engines or motors in which the power is generated by the explosion of gas-as,for example, naphtha or any suitable gas, being forced into the eX- ploding-chamber, may be ignited or exploded by means of the electric spark or otherwise.

My invention contemplates that the eXplosion of the gas will store up, in the form of compressed springs or air or otherwise,energy in such form as to be readily applied by suitable mechanical means,as gears and sprocketchains, to do the Work required.

My invention or motor I have designed especially for use in connection with motor-cycles,though it will be-apparent that the principal features thereof may be readily adapted to many analogous uses.

The principal and novel features of my invention may be stated in a general way to consist in a cylinder and piston, valves connected therewith, and an explosion-chamber so arranged and combined that the user may at will ignite charge after charge of gas in the explosion-chamber to reciprocate the piston and the piston-rod connected therewith to do the work required.

In my motor the cylinder and valves are so constructed and arranged that when an eX- plosion takes place the piston-rod is forced forward against the tension of a spring, and as its forward stroke is completed vents provided in the valve are opened, so that the piston under spring-pressure may be forced back to its first position unobstructed.

My invention further relates to certain details of construction which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a sectional elevation of a motor constructed in accordance with my invention,

the motor being shown in operative relation vwith a sprocket chain and wheel. Fig. 2 isa sectional view thereof on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of a portion of the motor, showing the piston-valve mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 8. 1

Like letters refer to like parts parts throughout the different figures.

A reciprocating piston-rod or plunger a is mounted to travel in a cylinder b, having end plates 19792, the latter end plate being provided with a central hole, which iits the piston-rod and which guides it in a rectilinear path. The end of the rod a that projects outside of the cylinder carries a guide c, through which a belt or sprocket-chain d passes. Mounted upon the interior of the guide c I provide a series of paWls e e, which are so mounted as toescape engagement with the sprocket-chain when the piston-rod is traveling outward from the cylinder, but which engage the lsprocketchain upon the return stroke of the piston to impart longitudinal motion to the chain and rotary motion to the sprocket-wheel engaging the same. The sprocket-wheel may in turn be connected with any suitable mechanism to which it is desired to transmit rotary motion, as the working shaft of a motor-cycle.

The inner end of the piston-rod a is provided with a stem a', upon which is mounted the piston f. This piston is provided with two circular portions f f2, the latter of which is fitted tightlyT upon said stem. These circular portions are provided with annular recesses, which receive packing-rings f3 f3 of well-known construction -forthe purpose of preventing leakage between the cylinder and piston. The body portion of the piston is made in the form of a cylinder surrounding the stema', arr-annular space intervening between the interior wall of the piston and the stem of sufficient size to accommodate a heli- IOO adjustable cap-n ut 17, preferably of the form shown, being screwed upon the stem. A setnnt 'i' is provided to secure the adjustment of nut if. The spring g tends, under conditions which will be hereinafter set forth, to thrust the cylindrical plunger 7L outwardly from the piston. The adjustable nut 2' is provided to limit the outward thrust of the plunger.

I provide a helical spring k between the piston and end plate b2, which surrounds the piston-rod a, which when relieved of opposing force places the piston in the position shown in Fig. l. Then it is desired to reciprocate the plunger to the right, pressure is exerted upon the piston to counteract the force of spring lt. The preferred means for exerting this pressure will be set forth hereinafter. As the piston is advanced the spring 7:. is compressed, energy thus being accumulated therein. XVhen the piston is relieved of pressure, the spring k returns the same and the piston-rod to the position shown in Fig. l. The pawls e e, carried by the guide c, engage the sprocket -chain d preferably upon the return stroke of the piston and rod, said chain being thus advanced and rotary motion contributed thereby to the sprocketwheel.

I provide an inlet Z between the end plate b and the piston, through which the explosive gas or element is admitted. This inlet coinmunicates with the bottom of a pump m. A duct n, leading from a supply of fuel, preferably naphtha, is let into the bottom of the pump-barrel.

The plunger m of the pump carrying the piston m2 may be operated in any suitable manner, preferably in the case of motor-cycles or similar vehicles by the foot of the rider, a stirrup m3 upon the upper end of the plunger being provided to receive the foot.

A check-valve n. is provided in the duct n, adapted to admit the fuel into the pump-barrel when the piston m2 is ascending. Then said piston is forced down, the valve n is closed and the fuel previously admitted to the same is forced through the inlet Z. The inlet Z is provided with a cheek-valve l', constructed to permit the passage of fuel from the inlet to the portion of the cylinder b between the pist-on thereof and the end plate L when the plunger m is descending. Then the fuel within the pu mp-barrel and inletl is relieved of pressure exerted thereon by the piston m2, the check-valve l prevents the fuel previously admitted to the cylinder l) from returning.

To ignite the fuel within the cylinder, I preferably provide an electric sparking device, which consists, preferably, in a fixed contacto and a movable con tact o', carried by or formed of the check-valve l', which constitute the electrodes of a circuitp, including the battery p'. A iiexible connection or wire p2 electrically connects the valve Z with the valve-seat. As the fuel is being forced with in the cylinder I) the electrodes o and o are brought into contact to complete the circuit p. lVhen the check-valve l is seated, which occurs when the plunger m2 has descended to its lower limit, a spark is established between the electrodes, which ignites the fuel within the chamber.

Vhere liquid fuel is employed, such as naphtha, it may be desirable to intermix a quantity of air with the naphtha to produce a highly-explosive gas. This may be accomplished in any well-known way, as by the provision of a valve in the pipe n between the source of fuel-supply and the pump, the valve being constructed to admit air to the pipe n as the piston ascends and to be closed when the piston descends in a well-known manner. This gas is ignited by the spark established upon the separation of the electrodes 0 0. The gas upon being ignited is exploded and thereupon drives the piston and piston-rod toward the end b2 of the cylinder, the spring k being thereby compressed. After the piston and rod have been thus advanced the gas between the end plate b' and the piston is exhausted, as will be presently set forth, permitting the spring 7n to return the piston and rod to their initial positions, whereupon the chain d is impelled, as before set forth.

I provide an annular stop q to limit the piston and its rod in their return stroke.

I will now describe 'the means that I preferably employ for exhausting the gas within the cylinder.

Four apertures 71.271,2 are preferably provided in the end plate h', which are adapted under certain conditions to communicate with apertures h3, formed in the cylindrical plunger lt near the end plate 7L. The space within the plunger is made to communicate with that portion of the cylinder between the piston and end plate b2 through the medium of sloping apertures h4 h". The stop q serves to force the plunger h within the piston to bring the portions h'f together,whereby the apertures h2 h3 are closed, so that the gas admitted to the cylinder cannot escape when admitted. After ignition the pressure of the gas upon the end plate 7L prevents the spring r/ from thrusting the plunger 7L outwardly during the travel of the piston. Vhen, however, the piston has traveled to its limit toward plate b2, an exhaust r becomes interposed between the piston and plate Z9', and the spring, momentarily relieved of the pressure of the gas, thrusts the plunger hinto the position shown in Fig. 3, so that during the return stroke of the piston through the agency of spring 7l; the gas displaced will find vent through the apertures 71.2 h3, the bore of plunger 7L, apertures h4 h, and apertures b3 b3, provided in the end plate b2.

I provide a tubular guide s, in which is placed a cylindrical pawl or detcnt t, within which is placed a helical spring t', which thrusts the pawl upwardly. This pawl is adapted to engage the nut 11 when the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. l to pre- ICO IIO

vent the pressure exerted by the pump from prematurely advancing the piston. When, however, an explosion occurs, the engagement of the pawl with the nut i is insufiicient to prevent the stroke of the piston.

I provide a cylindrical jacket u about the cylinder b, between which and the cylinder Water or other cooling agency yis confined for the purpose of reducing the heat generated in the operation of the motor.

It is obvious that changes in details of construction may readily be made in the appa-v ratus of my invention, and Ido not therefore desire to be limited to the precise construction shown.

It is obvious that my invention may be applied to other purposes than that described.

I have particularly set forth herein one type of apparatus embodying` my invention; but

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, all such modifications and adaptations of myinvention as may be made by those skilled in mechanics, the followingz' l. In a motor, the combination With a cylinder, of a piston adapted to reciprocate therein and operatively connected with mechanism to be actuated, means for admitting gas or fuel under pressure to said cylinder, a detent adapted to maintain the piston at one end or portion of its stroke while the gas is being thus admitted, and means for' igniting thel gas in the cylinder, the detent being adapted to be disengaged from the pistonupon the pressure of the gas within the cylinder being increased upon its ignition, substantially as described.

2. In a motor, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adapted to reciprocate therein, a support c actuated by the piston, a paWl e carried by the support, a chain or belt d adaptedto be engaged by the pawl, means for admitting gas or fuel under pressure to said cylinder, a detent adapted to maintain the piston at one end or portion of its stroke While the gas is being thus admitted, and means for igniting lthe gas in the cylinder, the detent being adapted to be disengaged from the piston upon the pressure of the gas Within the cylinder being increased upon its ignition, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of January, A. D. 1S97..`

ISAAC B. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

GEORGE P. BARTON, JOHN W. SINcLAIR. 

